Ministry of Justice
B.C.'s Prosecution Service
Courageous, Fair and Efficient – a Prosecution Service that has the confidence of the public
British Columbia’s prosecution service contributes to the protection of society by conducting or supervising prosecutions and appeals in all levels of courts fairly, impartially, effectively and respectfully, on behalf of the whole community.
As an integral part of the Ministry of Justice, the Criminal Justice Branch will deliver on its core responsibilities in a manner that safeguards prosecutorial independence, and supports an effective justice system through communication, collaborative effort and innovation.
Independence of Crown Counsel
As mandated under the Crown Counsel Act, Crown counsel make their prosecutorial decisions independent of any outside influence.
- Role of Crown Counsel
- Role of Special Prosecutors
- 2013/14 – 2015/16 Service Plan
- 2011/2012 Annual Report
Latest News
June 10, 2013
Stanley Cup Riot Charge Update
Victoria - As the two year anniversary of the Stanley Cup riot is approaching, the Criminal Justice Branch considers it in the public interest to provide an update on the status of the related prosecution files. Between May 1, 2013 and June 5, 2013, criminal charges were approved and sworn against an additional 14 adults and two youths in connection with the Stanley Cup riot.
June 6, 2013
No Charge Approved For In-custody Death in Penticton RCMP cells
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch of the Ministry of Justice announced that after a thorough review, the Branch has concluded that the available evidence does not support a substantial likelihood of conviction for failing to provide necessaries of life (s. 215 of the Criminal Code) in relation to the in-custody death of Steven Joseph Scott at the Penticton R.C.M.P. detachment in August 2012.
May 27, 2013
No Charge Approved in IIO investigation of Campbell River Motorcycle Crash
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch (the Branch) has received an investigative file from the Independent Investigations Office (the IIO) in relation to an incident on December 2, 2012 in which a male operating a motorcycle in Campbell River was injured after losing control of the motorcycle and sliding into a police vehicle. After a thorough review of the material provided by the IIO, the Branch has concluded that the available evidence does not support a substantial likelihood of conviction for either a criminal offence or an offence under the British Columbia Motor Vehicle Act against the R.C.M.P. officer who was operating the police vehicle. As such, no charges will be approved against this officer.
May 9, 2013
Delayed Announcement of Appointment and Decision of Special Prosecutor
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch of the Ministry of Justice announced that Special Prosecutor Robert Bruneau has approved charges against Darryl Bruce McDowell in connection with allegations that he threatened and criminally harassed an employee of the Criminal Justice Branch as a result of the employee's work on behalf of the Branch.
May 2, 2013
Appointment and Decision of Special Prosecutor Announced
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch of the Ministry of Justice announced that a Special Prosecutor, Christopher M. Considine, QC, has approved a charge of theft under $5000.00, contrary to section 334(b) of the Criminal Code, against Sgt. Derek N. Brassington of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
May 1, 2013
Stanley Cup Riot Charge Update
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch, Ministry of Justice, confirms that criminal charges have been approved and sworn against an additional 19 persons in connection with the Stanley Cup Riot.
May 1, 2013
Crown Initiates Appeal from Sentence in William Mastop Case
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch, Ministry of Justice, announced that on April 29, 2013 it filed an Application for Leave to Appeal from Sentence in the case of R. v. William Jacob Mastop.
April 16, 2013
Court of Appeal Decision Released In Tracy Dawn Smith Case
Victoria - On December 21, 2012 the Criminal Justice Branch announced that it had filed an Application for Leave to Appeal from Sentence in the case of R. v. Tracy Dawn Smith, 2012 BCPC 0440. Ms. Smith pleaded guilty to impaired driving causing the death of Janarthan Mahenthiran. Today, the British Columbia Court of Appeal released its decision.
April 5, 2013
No Charge Approved in Allegation of Excessive Force by Police in Creston
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch of the Ministry of Justice announced that following a careful analysis of all available evidence, the Branch has decided not to approve a criminal charge against a member of the Creston detachment of the R.C.M.P. in connection with an allegation of excessive force used on October 6, 2012.
March 11, 2013
Stanley Cup Riot Charge Update
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch, Ministry of Justice, confirms that criminal charges have been approved and sworn against an additional 33 persons in connection with the Stanley Cup Riot. These new charges involve 23 adults and 10 young persons.
March 6, 2013
No Charge Approved in Allegation of Excessive Force by Police
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch of the Ministry of Justice announced that following a careful analysis of the material provided by the investigating agency, the Branch has decided not to approve a criminal charge against a member of the Terrace detachment of the R.C.M.P. in connection with his alleged use of force against William Watts on May 15, 2012.
February 20, 2013
Special Prosecutor Concludes Miscarriage of Justice Has Occurred
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch, Ministry of Justice, announced that in September 2011, the then Assistant Deputy Attorney General for the Branch appointed Peter Wilson, QC as a Special Prosecutor to review a 2005 conviction for sexual assault against Gurdev Singh Dhillon. The review was initiated after the Branch became aware of evidence that was not made available to Crown Counsel or to the defence at the time of Mr. Dhillon’s trial, or on his subsequent appeal from conviction. In light of the nature of the evidence, the Branch decided that an independent review of Mr. Dhillon’s conviction was in the public interest, to determine whether a miscarriage of justice had occurred. The Special Prosecutor has completed the review. Based on his consideration of the material as a whole, and in light of the issues raised at Mr. Dhillon’s trial, the Special Prosecutor has concluded that a miscarriage of justice occurred.
January 18, 2013
Special Prosecutor’s Work on Bountiful – Status Update
Victoria - On January 17, 2012, then Assistant Deputy Attorney General Robert W.G Gillen, QC appointed Peter Wilson, QC as a Special Prosecutor in connection with an investigation into potential offences involving individuals associated with the community of Bountiful. The police investigation remains ongoing and includes an extensive review of a very substantial amount of information. While police have consulted the Special Prosecutor on issues that have arisen during the investigation, to date no Report to Crown Counsel has yet been submitted for his review on possible charges.
January 7, 2013
Delayed Announcement of Direction under the Crown Counsel Act and Appointment of Special Prosecutor
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch of the Ministry of Justice announced the 2009 appointment of Dennis Murray, QC as a Special Prosecutor in the matter of Mukhtiar Singh Panghali.
December 21, 2012
Crown Initiates Appeal from Sentence in Tracy Smith Case
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch, Ministry of Justice, announced that it has filed an Application for Leave to Appeal from Sentence in the case of R. v. Tracy Dawn Smith, 2012 BCPC 0440.
December 18, 2012
Delayed Announcement of Appointment of Special Prosecutors
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch of the Ministry of Justice announced that David Butcher, Q.C. and Richard Peck, Q.C. were appointed in 2009 as Special Prosecutors in connection with an investigation into the death of Ronak Wagad, and the subsequent prosecution of Charles Anthony Leslie and Babak Najafi-Chaghabouri.
November 30, 2012
Decision of Special Prosecutor Announced
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch, Ministry of Justice, announced that independent Special Prosecutor Christopher M. Considine, Q.C. has approved proceeding on a charge of Driving While Prohibited contrary to Section 95(1) of the Motor Vehicle Act against Matthew Kuzma, the son of an employee of the Criminal Justice Branch.
November 2, 2012
No Charges in Case Involving Terrace RCMP
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch of the Ministry of Justice announced that no charges have been approved against any members of the R.C.M.P. in connection with an incident involving Robert Wright in the Terrace R.C.M.P. detachment cell block on April 21, 2012.
October 23, 2012
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch of the Ministry of Justice confirms charges have been approved and sworn against an additional five individuals in connection with the Stanley Cup Riot, three adults and two young persons.
October 5, 2012
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch, Ministry of Justice, announced that it has filed applications for leave to appeal from sentence with the Court of Appeal of British Columbia in two of the Stanley Cup riot prosecution files: R. v. Alexander Peepre and R. v. Lincoln Kennedy-Williams.
September 26, 2012
Decision of Special Prosecutor Announced
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch of the Ministry of Justice announced that independent special prosecutor Christopher M. Considine, Q.C. has reviewed an investigative report that was sent to the Crown by Victoria police for charge assessment in relation to Matthew Kuzma, and has determined that it should proceed in Provincial Court as a Crown application for a Peace Bond under s.810(1) of the Criminal Code. Mr. Kuzma is the son of a senior member of the Criminal Justice Branch.
September 25, 2012
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch of the Ministry of Justice has approved charges against an additional 11 adults in connection with the Stanley Cup Riot on June 15, 2011.
September 4, 2012
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch of the Ministry of Justice has approved charges against an additional 8 individuals in connection with the Stanley Cup Riot on June 15, 2011.
August 24, 2012
No Crown Appeal from Sentence in the Robinson Case
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch, Ministry of Justice, will not file an appeal from sentence for the offence of wilfully attempting to obstruct justice in R. v. Benjamin Montgomery Robinson, 2012 BCSC 1134.
August 10, 2012
Stanley Cup Riot Charge Update
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch of the Ministry of Justice confirms that since the June 15, 2012 update issued by the Integrated Riot Investigation Team charges have been approved and sworn against an additional 23 individuals in connection with the Stanley Cup Riot, 20 adults and 3 young persons.
August 2, 2012
R. v. Bacon, Haevischer, Johnston and Le – Separate Trials
Victoria - Two Direct Indictments were filed today in British Columbia Supreme Court, separately charging Cody Rae Haevischer, Matthew James Johnston and Quang Vinh Thang (Michael) Le on one Indictment and James Kyle Bacon on the second Indictment. All four accused continue to face the same charges, in connection with the deaths of six individuals on October 19, 2007 at the Balmoral Tower building in Surrey.
July 16, 2012
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch of the Ministry of Justice announced the appointment of Robert Bruneau of Kamloops as independent Special Prosecutor in relation to a Kamloops R.C.M.P. investigation into the death of Jesse Seymour.
February 20, 2012
Criminal Justice Branch – Charge Approval Process
Victoria - On February 8, 2012, the B.C. government announced that Gary McCuaig, QC, has been engaged as “an external expert to review B.C.’s criminal charge assessment process to determine whether it is the most effective model for making prosecution decisions”. To better inform the public discussion, the Branch has decided to release a few facts about its charge assessment model.
January 18, 2012
Appointment of Special Prosecutor Announced
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch of the Ministry of Attorney General announced that Peter Wilson, Q.C. has been appointed as an independent Special Prosecutor in connection with an investigation into potential offences involving individuals associated with the community of Bountiful.
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